Gillibrand proposes plan to assist seniors' independent living

Thousands elderly New Yorkers are residing in nursing homes when they could be living independently, if they had resources to assist them, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said today. To deal with the situation, Gillibrand, a member of the Senate’s Special Committee on Aging, is pushing an agenda to tackle issues that restrict choices for seniors when dealing with long-term care.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y. (AP photo)

“When seniors stay in their homes and maintain their independence, they live longer, healthier, happier lives and taxpayers save millions,” Gillibrand said.

The proposal Gillibrand is backing would include expanding access to in-home care, creating incentives for more health professionals to work with seniors and investing in transportation to maximize independence for seniors. Supporters estimate that the plan would save New Yorkers about $30 million a year.

The proposed Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act, known as the CLASS Act, would establish the first national insurance program to make long-term care affordable to seniors. The voluntary, self-funded insurance program would be provided through employers and paid through a payroll deduction of $30 a month.

Gillibrand noted that although this plan would automatically enroll all working adults, like Medicare, people can choose to opt out.

To date the bill has received bipartisan support, and it is included in both the House and Senate health care bills. It is one of the pieces of the health care bill that most Democrats and Republicans agree on since it could save taxpayers millions of dollars every year.

“The health-care reform legislation we are debating right now would provide long-term care insurance to help many middle-class seniors afford the cost of quality care in their homes,” Gillibrand said.

Gillibrand admits her proposal is a piecemeal approach to health reform — in case the Democrats’ current comprehensive approach fails.

The program would not be a replacement for basic health insurance as it would only provide seniors or people with disabilities money to pay for home-care services, adult day programs, or assisted-living situations, not for medical expenses. This would allow participants to continue to maintain their own independence if they chose instead of going to a nursing home or community-based care center. The bill would not just save taxpayers money, said Gillibrand, it would provide incentives to increase the workforce of health professionals caring for seniors.